Marion Hoffman Fraley

About

Marion Hoffman Fraley works in communications for a regional legal aid organization. This is her personal blog, which addresses current communications topics and stepping beyond one’s homespace. A University of Wisconsin-Madison alumna, she is a former reporter in Wisconsin and independent school communications professional in California and Pennsylvania. After 19 years as a stay-at-home mom and volunteer in public schools, she relaunched her communications career in 2017, utilizing resources including iRelaunch.com, tech courses at Temple University and Montgomery County Community College (MCCC), Northwestern University’s social media marketing MOOC at http://bit.ly/CourseraOnlineUniv, and workshops, etc. through Public Relations Society of America and Philadelphia Public Relations Association.

* * * * *

Windsong at Wintergreen started as a single-room cabin, built by my grandfather and dad in the big woods of Wisconsin, on a little lake. It’s since grown through construction projects over decades, almost entirely through my dad’s vision and energy, with some manual labor provided by my brothers and me in our childhoods. Painting, check. Three coats of varnish for the pine ceiling, check.

Instilling this “from-the-ground-up” spirit, I begin this blog in the Philadelphia suburbs, where I’ve lived for 23+ years after growing up in Wisconsin and starting out as a reporter for the Marshfield News-Herald in Central Wisconsin. Between WI and PA were three short, formative years in Southern California where I “discovered” art, starting with a Picasso exhibit at LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art), and also by taking visitors to LACMA, the Getty, and the Norton Simon. Thanks to working at Westridge, an all-girls’ school in Pasadena, I met authors Lorene Cary, Harriet Doerr and interviewed / worked with a cadre of inspiring women.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art was my gateway into Southeastern PA art, expanding exponentially to the Barnes Foundation (both Merion and Philly sites), Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Michener, Brandywine River and Woodmere museums, and beyond. MCCC remains a favorite local spot for author events, most recently Jacqueline Woodson. As a stay-at-home mom, I relished outings with my son to the Philadelphia Zoo, Please Touch Museum, Franklin Institute, Academy of Natural Sciences, and beyond. I’ve been grateful to observe that Temple University, where he is now enrolled, sends students on assignments into the city.